"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [ظ‎‎١‎٧‎٩] (٥٣٠/٣٦٣)

354.
LAND ROUTES
formerly predatory (see under their head-quarters, Seruj, m. 27,
below).
The route should be passable throughout for wheels, though heavy
carts might have difficulty in using it in winter, when there is a
good deal of mud. In summer they should have little difficulty.
Moreover, it was reported in 1916 that the main line of Turkish
road-transport from Jerablus to Diarbekr passed through Seruj
(m. 27) and Urfeh.
There are a good many streams and water is plentiful in winter,
while villages are numerous, and there is much cultivation, at any
rate in the neighbourhood of Seruj. There is hardly any wood along
the route.
An authority of 1912 says that there is a longer but better route
which makes a sweep SE. through the plains, skirts the Seruj Dagh,
and then runs K along the E. side of the Nimrud Dagh. This is
perhaps the r.-hand route which branches off at m. 6^, but there is
no further information available regarding it.
(The distances given below seem to be fairly accurate, and agree
with the times given by a recent traveller, 16-17 hrs. from Urfeh
to Birijik.)
Miles from
Birijik
o
2|
3
Q 1
0 2
6i
u 2
101
13
14|
20
22
Birijik. Follow Diarbekr road [Route 113) for about 2|m.
Turn r. from Diarbekr road [B 113).
Large spring and ravine.
Alt. 1,480 ft. 2 good springs and ravine.
Eavine: masonry culvert (15 ft.) over small stream.
Eoad now crosses uncultivated chalk downs covered with
grass (March).
Valley ; small village 3 m. to 1. Track divides : keep 1.
Cross bare hills covered with grass and scented shrub.
Small stream; mound, caves, and a little wheat cultiva
tion. Steep ascent up range of hills bearing SW.
Small spring.
Summit, 2,250 ft. From here red clay soil and limestone,
rocky, bare, grassy hills. Descend gradually to 1,880 ft.
in a wide valley or plain with wheat cultivation and 4
villages.
Tel Erba'in, large Kurdish village 1^ m. to r. in centre of
plain near a flat-topped mound. Wells and stream.
Slight rise over low ridge.
Summit, 1,900 ft. View over cultivated plain of Seruj.
Sharp descent.